ards him.
Something in his helplessness had kindled the protective spirit in her.

"Has life been so terrible for you?" she whispered. "Have you left
behind--but no! you never could have been really wicked. You are not very
old, are you? Why do you not stand up and be a man? If you have done
wrong, then very likely people have done wrong things to you. Why should
you brood over these memories? Why--... What are you looking at? Who are
these people?"

The Professor, with Quest and Long Jim, suddenly appeared round the corner
of the building. They walked towards Craig. He shrank back in his place.

"If these are your enemies," the girl cried fiercely, "remember that they
cannot touch you here. I'll have the boys out in a minute, if they dare to
try it."

Craig struggled to his feet. He made no answer. His eyes were fixed upon
the Professor's. The girl passed her arm through his and dragged him into
the saloon. They passed Jose in the doorway. He scoffed at them.

"Say, the boss will fire you, Marta, if you waste all your time with that
Yankee," he muttered.

Marta drew the red rose from the bosom of her dress and placed it in
Craig's buttonhole. Then she led him without a word to a seat.

"If these men try any tricks in here," she said, "there'll be trouble."

Almost at that moment they all three entered. Long Jim nodded to Craig in
friendly fashion.

"It's all right, cookie," he told them. "Don't you look so scared. This is
just a bit of parley-vous business, that's all."

The Professor held out a piece of paper. He handed it over to Craig.

"Craig," he announced, "this is a dispatch which I found in Allguez with
my letters. It is addressed to you, but under the circumstances you will
scarcely wonder that I opened it. You had better read it."

Craig accepted the cable-form and read it through slowly to himself:--

"To John Craig, c/o Professor Lord Ashleigh, Yonkers, New York:

"Your sister died to-day. Her daughter Mary sails on Tuesday to
join you in New York. Please meet her.

"COMPTON, Solicitor, London."

Craig sat for a moment as though stunned. The girl leaned over towards
him.

"Are they trying to take you on a warrant?" she whispered. "Remember you
don't need to go unless you want to."

Craig shook his head.

"This is something quite different," he explained. "Leave me for a moment,
Marta. I must talk to these people."

She slipped regretfully away from his side and out in